Untutored

Calmly the Senate opens its day. Calmly it hears the invocation of divine guidance. Calmly--as the more punctual members drift in through many doors--it receives, the daily ton of telegrams, letters which Rotarians, Kiwanians, Lions, Elks, Owls, women's associations, welfare workers, American Legion posts, Chambers of Commerce, have sonorously inscribed and asked a Senator to present.

One day last week, all this having been done and finished, the Senate got down to the serious business of the Italian debt. After many hours of debate, there was a lull. Veteran Senators became aware that the clerk was reading something. Listening, they heard it to be a seething telegram. Mystified, they whisperingly questioned one another, learned that the Junior Senator from Rhode Island (Jesse Houghton Metcalf) had sent to the clerk this telegram from a constituent, Angelo Morello, who had become incensed by re marks made the previous day by Senator James A. Reed of Missouri.* "Scurrilous, venomous . . . due to ignorance and prejudice," said Angelo Morello's telegram. Veteran Senators were appalled, cast sad looks at Mr. Metcalf, Angelo Morello's Senator.

The clerk's dry voice ceased and in dryer voice Senator Reed spoke: "Does the Senator know that he has violated every rule of the Senate, and not only that, but it is also a violation of the ordinary rules of courtesy."

Senator Metcalf, a newcomer to the Senate, replied, abashed, nervous: "I did not understand I was violating any rule."

Hastily, for the honor of the Republican party, Senator Smoot shot forth: "It is against the rules to print such matter and I will ask that it be expunged from the record."

More hastily, Senator Metcalf nodded a relieved assent. The Vice President struck the untraditional telegram from the record. Senator Reed proceeded leisurely to teach Senator Metcalf that, before sending to the clerk such a letter or telegram, the recipient confers with the Senator attacked--to teach him other lessons in the traditions of a most traditional Chamber.

*Senator Reed had referred to the well known Italian debacle during the War when Italian soldiers, expecting to meet Austrians with whom they had made a subterranean truce, encountered ferocious Germans. The Senator cast no aspersions upon Italians.